Guides

(pron. gheed). Contraction of guidons. A corps of
French cavalry which carries the guidon, a standard borne by
light horse-soldiers, broad at one end and nearly pointed at the
other. The corps des Guides was organised in 1796 by Napoleon as
a personal bodyguard; in 1848 several squadrons were created, but
Napoleon III. made the corps a part of the Imperial Guard. Great care
must be taken not to confound the Guides with the Gardes, as they are
totally distinct terms.